Micah Richards, a former English international and current pundit, has praised Nicolas Jackson, saying the striker has the potential to become "one of the top strikers in Europe." Despite being sold by Chelsea last summer, Jackson has been making an impact at Aston Villa after joining the club in a £47.5 million deal, with the possibility of it rising to £65 million. During his time at Chelsea, Jackson scored 30 goals and provided 12 assists in 81 games, helping the club win the UEFA Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, Jackson's time at Chelsea was marred by a lack of playing time under manager Enzo Maresca, who chose not to include him in the starting lineup. This led to Jackson being loaned to Bayern Munich, a move that did not go as planned. His direct replacement, Liam Delap, struggled, and Chelsea's performance dipped significantly, with the team finishing 10th in the Premier League. Richards suggested that Xabi Alonso, the current manager of Liverpool, might be making a mistake by not giving Jackson an opportunity at his club. Richards highlighted Jackson's technical skills, including his ability to hold up the ball, his intelligent movement, and his composure under pressure. He noted that if Jackson could improve his finishing, he could reach the top tier of European strikers. Jackson made an immediate impact at Villa by scoring his first goal for the club in a Champions League victory against Club Brugge. Now, he faces the challenge of stepping into the shoes of Ollie Watkins, who has been a key figure for the team. Former England striker Gary Lineker agreed with Richards, stating that Jackson has the potential to succeed if he can develop more consistent finishing ability. Both analysts believe that with the right opportunities and development, Jackson could fulfill his potential and establish himself as one of Europe's elite forwards.